MATCH PREVIEW: SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN

It’s been almost three months since Enfield were last in competitive action when the club defeated Cockfosters 3-2 to lift the Errington Cup. However, with the 2022-23 season now upon us, Enfield begin their Essex Senior League campaign away at Sawbridgeworth Town with the club firmly setting their sights on promotion.

The E’s finished last season in 5th place, 19 points off eventual champions Walthamstow in what was an eventful campaign for the club but winning the Errington Cup ended the season on a high. However, the focus this term will be getting out of the Essex Senior League.

Enfield have been busy in preparation for the upcoming season, making multiple new signing to help further strengthen the squad. Those new additions include midfielder Danny Norton from Bowers & Pitsea, Redbridge striker Ibrahim Kehinde and Coggeshall Town’s Ayrton Coley, who all join an already strong E’s side.

Opposition: Sawbridgeworth

Jamie Cureton’s side will be looking to make the perfect start on Saturday as they make the short journey to Crofters End to take on Sawbridgeworth. The Robins endured a tough season, finishing in 19th but the hard work from joint-managers Alex Salmon and Kieran Amos helped secure safety for Sawbo.

However, with Salmon departing over the summer to become the manager of Benfleet, Ben Taylor was appointed as his successor having previously managed Sawbridgeworth’s reserves and under-18s sides. It is expected to be another difficult campaign for the Hertfordshire outfit, but the Robins will be determined to steer clear of any relegation fears.

Player to Watch: Ibrahim Kehinde

The player to look out for ahead of this game is Ibrahim Kehinde. The striker, as mentioned above, has recently joined the club from Redbridge and scored 23 league goals for the Motormen last season, putting him joint-3rd overall. A striker of Kehinde’s quality will no doubt help the E’s out in the goalscoring department.

Kehinde has already made an impact for the E’s during pre-season having found the back of the net on a few occasions including a brace against Harlow Town. Providing he starts, Sawbridgeworth will have their work cut out if they are to keep Kehinde quiet. Can he open his account for the season in this game?

Previous Meetings

Enfield faced Sawbridgeworth a total of three times last season with the E’s winning on all three occasions. The first came at Crofters which ended in a resounding 5-1 victory. Despite going behind very early on, two goals each from Louie Johnson and Dwade James along with one from Reece Conway helped Enfield pick up all three points.

The two faced each other again in the league just a week later as the E’s won by the same scoreline thanks to a double from James along with goals from Johnson, Conway, and Ryan Ramsay. Meanwhile, in the third meeting, Enfield took on the Robins in the quarter-finals of the Errington Cup and ran out 3-0 winners with Jeffrey Cobblah, Kieran Bishop and Ramsay getting on the scoresheet.